Brevard's Festival of Trees to end 22-year run

Published: Wednesday, March 6, 2013 at 5:33 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, March 6, 2013 at 5:33 p.m.

BREVARD — The Festival of Trees, for more than two decades a major Christmastime event in the area, will not be held this year.

The Children's Center of Transylvania County, which staged the five-day festival, says public interest has waned and proceeds no longer warrant what it costs in time and money to organize the event.

At its height, it filled Brevard's historic Silvermont Mansion to overflowing with up to 45 elaborately decorated Christmas trees with more than 10,000 lights. Proceeds often approached $35,000, which was a major revenue source for the nonprofit center.

Last year, the festival still crowded Silvermont with 30 fresh-cut trees, but revenues from admissions and sales totaled only $18,700.

"I really hate losing it," said Center Executive Director Kathie Williams, "but I think there's just a lack of community interest." That's really not too surprising, she added, given how long it was held.

Brevard Mayor Jimmy Harris said the center and its hundreds of volunteers should be proud.

"I congratulate them for doing it," he said. "It has been a Christmastime tradition that we've all loved, and we'll miss it."

"It is a tremendous loss to the community," said local restaurateur Roberta Hallinen, a 23-year member of the Children's Center's Board of Directors and the originator of the festival in 1991. "It was with a sad heart that the board made the decision."

Waning interest resulted in lower attendance, center officials said, but also affected other revenue streams. For instance, said Hallinen, the sale of each tree on display — depending on size, they cost $350 to $500 each to buy — was becoming increasingly difficult. Also, sales at the gift shop, a major revenue source, and the café were down.

Hallinen held out a glimmer of hope that the festival might be resurrected in the future. "Who knows? We may find a way to do it again, perhaps with a renewal of community interest and some new ideas."

But for now, the center has to face the hard realities of supporting its many programs to prevent and deal with child abuse and neglect. With a paid staff of two and scores of volunteers, the center, housed in a converted cottage at 95 South Johnson St. in downtown Brevard, serves hundreds of parents and children each year.

"There's no place else in the county like it," said Board Chairman Alice Hardy, "and I would be very sad if we could not support it. We're trying very hard to bring new ways to fund it so that it can survive."

The center's annual operating budget now exceeds $150,000. It receives grants from the United Way, the Governor's Crime Commission and others. It also receives revenue from sales at its Children's Center Emporium, a shop on Broad Street, and donations from churches and individuals.

The center gets no government money and it has no annual fund drive, so the festival's proceeds were important.

"We really have to work hard to find new ways, to make up for it," said Hardy.

<p>BREVARD — The Festival of Trees, for more than two decades a major Christmastime event in the area, will not be held this year. </p><p>The Children's Center of Transylvania County, which staged the five-day festival, says public interest has waned and proceeds no longer warrant what it costs in time and money to organize the event.</p><p>At its height, it filled Brevard's historic Silvermont Mansion to overflowing with up to 45 elaborately decorated Christmas trees with more than 10,000 lights. Proceeds often approached $35,000, which was a major revenue source for the nonprofit center.</p><p>Last year, the festival still crowded Silvermont with 30 fresh-cut trees, but revenues from admissions and sales totaled only $18,700.</p><p>"I really hate losing it," said Center Executive Director Kathie Williams, "but I think there's just a lack of community interest." That's really not too surprising, she added, given how long it was held.</p><p>Brevard Mayor Jimmy Harris said the center and its hundreds of volunteers should be proud. </p><p>"I congratulate them for doing it," he said. "It has been a Christmastime tradition that we've all loved, and we'll miss it."</p><p>"It is a tremendous loss to the community," said local restaurateur Roberta Hallinen, a 23-year member of the Children's Center's Board of Directors and the originator of the festival in 1991. "It was with a sad heart that the board made the decision." </p><p>Waning interest resulted in lower attendance, center officials said, but also affected other revenue streams. For instance, said Hallinen, the sale of each tree on display — depending on size, they cost $350 to $500 each to buy — was becoming increasingly difficult. Also, sales at the gift shop, a major revenue source, and the café were down. </p><p>Hallinen held out a glimmer of hope that the festival might be resurrected in the future. "Who knows? We may find a way to do it again, perhaps with a renewal of community interest and some new ideas." </p><p>But for now, the center has to face the hard realities of supporting its many programs to prevent and deal with child abuse and neglect. With a paid staff of two and scores of volunteers, the center, housed in a converted cottage at 95 South Johnson St. in downtown Brevard, serves hundreds of parents and children each year. </p><p>"There's no place else in the county like it," said Board Chairman Alice Hardy, "and I would be very sad if we could not support it. We're trying very hard to bring new ways to fund it so that it can survive."</p><p>The center's annual operating budget now exceeds $150,000. It receives grants from the United Way, the Governor's Crime Commission and others. It also receives revenue from sales at its Children's Center Emporium, a shop on Broad Street, and donations from churches and individuals. </p><p>The center gets no government money and it has no annual fund drive, so the festival's proceeds were important.</p><p>"We really have to work hard to find new ways, to make up for it," said Hardy.</p>